FFL ENTERS THE FRAY IN CAGAYAN DE ORO / MISAMIS ORIENTAL

"Heads Up!”, a monthly publication of Frank Padilla's FFL that still appropriates the name “CFC-USA” has put out a one-page article supporting the revolt of Jun del Fierro from CFC-IC.
On page 8 of the paper's issue for August, 2009, Nani Almanza, National Director of FFL in the USA, says it is alright for del Fierro to move away from mainstream CFC-IC as “CFC-GK”; on the other hand, he continues to blame the mainstream CFC-IC’s for holding on to GK then, which was the main reason for Frank Padilla's separation and eventual formation of the FFL group

How is it now?  Consider these propostions:

- Jun del Fierro severed from the original CFC-IC because he opposed CFC’s “letting go” of GK

- Frank Padilla left and formed FFL when he felt that the original CFC-IC has veered away from its core mission and vision because of GK

- FFL, through Nani Almanza, its national Director for USA, argues that Jun del Fierro's appending of “GK” to CFC is just like “FFL” being added to CFC, and affims FFL's support of del Fierr's "CFC-GK”

- Thus, Frank Padilla, founder of FFL, -supports “CFC-GK” of Jun del Fierro

QUESTIONS:

FFL, which is CFC "in spirit" is a soulmate of del Fierro's "GK" (which is also CFC "in spirit")?

"What about the "SPIRIT' OF GK"?

Are Frank Padilla, Tony Meloto, and Jun del Fierro now a United Front, Brod Nani?

We will need to sort out the complications due to FFLs muddling. Meantime, I will leave it up to you to form your own judgment. Here is the full article:

Case Study in Black & White

In our move from control to servanthood,, corporate to Spirit--led, functional to relational, the Servant--General guides our discernment of how CFC Global mishandled CFC Cagayan de Oro’’s recent split from them..

August 16, 2009 -Our split from CFC Global formally happened on July 30, 2007, at the second restoration assembly. CFC Cagayan de Oro’s split from CFC Global happened also on July 30, with Jun del Fierro's letter to its erstwhile International Council or IC.  Both splits happened just a little over a month in the tenure of the newly elected/designated CFC Directors -- the 2 Joes. What is the lesson? They should watch out for every July 30 after their elections, and more importantly, watch out in appointing a Joe as Director.

Today starts a series of readings on the book of Judges. Today's reading is about the infidelities of the Israelites. They veered away and began serving the Baals. The Lord then allowed them to be defeated by their enemies. They relinquished "none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct." (Jgs 2:19).  In the same way, the IC persists in its serious wrongdoings, and persists in stubbornly insisting on their erroneous posture.

In their "A Pastoral Letter to All CFC Members of Misamis Oriental," we see the same patterns of the past two years.

(1) The IC speaks of acting "in the spirit of love and unity" while being the causes of spreading hate and fostering disunity.

(2) The IC proclaims itself as the "source of guidance for the CFC global family." It is God who is the source of guidance.  Have they proclaimed themselves as the new baals?

(3) The IC speaks of taking "this opportunity to present the real situation and to distill the truth" while dishing out continuing disinformation and withhold the real truth.

(4) The IC says that "CFC and GK are committed to pursue a collaborative and cooperative relationship" without disclosing the intense conflict that exists between the two camps, and without disclosing their real motives. Is it money?

(5) "In our life as a community of God, our pastoral formation has taught us that discord and conflicts can always be resolved through a loving relationship,"  This claim is so contrary to the malice and maligning that they inflicted on us, which in fact are what ultimately caused the split.

(6) The IC cites "that there is a timehonored culture and practice of dialogue," which they did not pursue in their conflict with us. They did not respond to calls to dialogue. The IC says "Jun del Fierro did not go through this process."

Neither did they with us. They are just reaping what they have sown.

(7) The IC says that Joe Yam and Joey A were scheduled to have a dialogue with Jun del Fierro but that he did not wait for them but instead announced his withdrawal of support from the IC. Even

if that is true, that is better than what happened to us, that we had the 4-day discussions (dialogue) and actually had an agreement but they reneged.

(8) "According to our Vatican statutes, membership in CFC is contingent on several elements, among which is obedience to the authority of the IC." This is not in the statutes. In fact, we had always said that blind obedience is proper to a cult. Again, has the IC made itself the new baal?

(9) The IC claims that "this overt act of declaration of nonsupport for the IC constitutes rebellion." In fact, it constitutes recognition of the wrongs done by the IC and thus acting in accordance with what they believe to be right. If ever this can be considered rebellion, it is rebellion against man for veering away from the ways of God. Thus it partakes of allegiance to God

(10) "CFC has been bestowed the gift of institutional leadership, the bedrock foundation of our community life." Here we see that they indeed have gone the way of the corporate, the institutional, the secular. Here we see that to them "gift," or charism, is institutional. It is no longer charismatic, a gift of the Spirit. Thus their bedrock foundation is of man and not of God.

(11) "We are all called upon to defend this foundation, to preserve it and to reject people who blatantly disrespect and disregard this important element of our life." Given that they have defined this foundation as institutional leadership, what they are actually calling on their members to do is to defend them in their positions of power and authority. In this, they are calling on members to reject their own brethren, rather than reaching out to them in love.

(12) "Anyone who joins Jun del Fierro in his move to withdraw support from the IC is in effect declaring that he or she is voluntarily leaving CFC." This of course is a total lie, exactly what they used against us. We did not leave CFC but only left the unenlightened IC. In the same way, Jun has declared that they are still CFC, that is, CFC-GK Misamis Oriental.  Just like us, we added to the name in order to distinguish and not to sow confusion. Jun in fact is the one who is obedient to the statutes, which say that "the social dimension of the work of CFC .... is GK (statute 11.3). The IC has violated the Vatican statutes without clearing the letting go of GK with the Vatican. Even their staunch supporter Archbishop Arguelles was dismayed with their move and disagreed with them. It is not Jun but rather the IC that has long ago left the authentic CFC.

(13) The IC asks its members "to aggressively protect our beloved community against those who actively seek to destroy our culture and tradition." This again is the call to arms that fosters hatred and encourages the anonymous bloggers and emailers that malign all those whom the IC as tagged as enemies.

(14) "We ask that we all move forward in Christ." Unfortunately, the IC has long been moving backward, away from Christ.

 

IMPLICATION

The loss of CFC Cagayan de Oro (CDO) from the CFC Global roster is a strategic debacle.  CDO is one of the oldest CFC communities in the Philippines.  It was the jumping off point to CFC’s first mission – Malaybalay, Bukidnon. CDO evangelized for CFC the whole of Northern Mindanao including Ozamis City that jots out to the Dipolog and Pagadian Cities of the Zamboangas; Iligan City that opens up to Marawi City and the Agusan provinces, and Malabalay that is the gateway to Cotabato and parts of Davao. Cagayan de Oro also competes with Davao City for being the most progressive city in Mindanao.  Ethnically, this city impacts on all Cebuano-speaking Filipinos comprising 60% of the entire country.